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- Tasks: Help prevent homelessness by providing tailored advice and support to individuals and families.
- Company: Join Richmond and Wandsworth Councils, dedicated to making a positive impact in the community.
- Benefits: Enjoy 40 days annual leave, flexible working, and a generous pension plan.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while working in a supportive and collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Strong understanding of homelessness issues and excellent communication skills are essential.
- Other info: This role offers two fixed-term contracts with opportunities for personal growth and development.
The predicted salary is between 31700 - 37000 £ per year.
About Us
Salary Range: £37,766 to £44,430 per annum
Full time, Fixed term contracts
Location: Housing Customer Services Centre, 90 Putney Bridge Road, SW18 1HR
Other essential information: 2 positions available: 1 x fixed term contract until 31/7/2026 and 1x fixed term contract until 31/03/2028
Objective of role
We are a London borough providing a very busy statutory homelessness advice service who are looking to recruit two Prevention and Solution Officers to work with us. In this role you will work with all types of people who approach us as homeless or are about to be. They may have become street homeless, or perhaps an individual has been asked to leave home. Maybe someone is being evicted from their tenancy and cannot remain there any longer or you may find that a family must leave their home due to violence. In this role you will work proactively with individuals and families to help support them in their homelessness journey and adhere to legislative guidance as well as policy and procedures set out for you to conduct your role effectively.
Within the Prevention and Solutions Service, you will provide tailored advice and information to customers and provide interim accommodation where required. You will work within a hybrid model keeping a focus on the needs of our customers and supporting your work life balance. In addition to this, you will also provide a holistic approach and make the relevant referrals for clients who have complex needs that are not always immediately apparent. Your contribution and support will help those clients to stay in their current home or find a new home by delivery of key prevention techniques and options whilst managing expectations. You will enjoy partnership working, collaboration and have a keen motivation to meet objectives and importance of working towards targets.
About The Role
In this role, you will need to do the following:
- Prevent and alleviate homelessness by providing housing advice and options to those who present as homeless.
- Conduct and review homelessness needs assessments and complete personalised housing plans to help empower individuals to sustain and secure accommodation.
- Work collaboratively with various stakeholders and manage expectations.
- Demonstrate an excellent customer centred approach and participate in Duty rotas.
- Be able to issue out statutory homelessness decision letters aligned with Homelessness legislation in a timely manner.
- Ability to take on a caseload and manage this effectively.
- Utilise IT systems to accurately update and record information.
Essential Qualifications, Skills And Experience
- Understanding of Homelessness & Prevention: Strong knowledge of the causes of homelessness and effective prevention techniques.
- Legislative Expertise: Ability to interpret and explain complex laws and guidance clearly.
- Fast-Paced Work Environment: Capability to thrive in a busy and demanding setting.
- Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication with strong relationship-building abilities.
- Organisational & Record Keeping: Exceptional skills in managing tasks and maintaining accurate records.
- Experience with Complex Customers: Extensive background in working with individuals who have diverse and complex needs.
- Resilience & Teamwork: Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, demonstrating adaptability and perseverance.
Closing Date: Sunday 22nd June (23.59)
Shortlisting Date: W/C 23rd June
Interview Date: TBC
Test/Presentation: A written test will form part of the interview process
Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know.
We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.
Homelessness Prevention and Solutions Officer employer: Richmond and Wandsworth Councils
Contact Detail:
Richmond and Wandsworth Councils Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Homelessness Prevention and Solutions Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the local homelessness legislation and policies. Understanding the legal framework will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to the role and the community.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the field of homelessness prevention. Attend local events or join online forums to connect with others who work in similar roles, as they can provide valuable insights and potentially refer you for the position.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the written test by reviewing common scenarios you might encounter in the role. Practising how to assess needs and create personalised housing plans will give you a solid foundation for the assessment.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your interpersonal skills during the interview process. Be ready to discuss examples of how you've successfully worked with diverse and complex clients, as this is crucial for the role of a Homelessness Prevention and Solutions Officer.
We think you need these skills to ace Homelessness Prevention and Solutions Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Homelessness Prevention and Solutions Officer role. Tailor your application to highlight relevant experiences and skills that align with the job description.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise any previous experience you have in homelessness prevention, housing advice, or working with vulnerable individuals. Use specific examples to demonstrate your understanding of the challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness.
Showcase Your Skills: Make sure to showcase your communication, organisational, and interpersonal skills in your application. Provide examples of how you've successfully managed complex cases or worked collaboratively with stakeholders in the past.
Prepare for the Written Test: Since a written test is part of the interview process, practice writing clear and concise responses to potential questions related to homelessness legislation and prevention techniques. This will help you feel more confident during the assessment.
How to prepare for a job interview at Richmond and Wandsworth Councils
✨Understand the Role Thoroughly
Before your interview, make sure you have a solid understanding of the responsibilities and objectives of the Homelessness Prevention and Solutions Officer role. Familiarise yourself with the key tasks such as conducting needs assessments and providing tailored advice to clients.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Since this role involves working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, it's crucial to demonstrate your excellent verbal and written communication skills. Be prepared to discuss how you've effectively communicated complex information in previous roles.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and resilience. Think of examples from your past experiences where you successfully managed complex cases or worked collaboratively with stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.
✨Highlight Your Knowledge of Legislation
Be ready to discuss your understanding of homelessness legislation and prevention techniques. This knowledge is essential for the role, so prepare to explain how you would apply this expertise in real-life situations to support clients effectively.
